CHCA Celebrates the Class of 2023
Celebrating their Many Accomplishments
6 and 7
228
12
10
7
10
22
88 seniors
traveled out of state through CHCA’s Intercession Program
62%
(73 students) will attend out-of-state schools next year
89
seniors participated in Athletics during Gr 9-12
18%
69%
85%
27,000
Andrew Ghastine, Class of 2023 Valedictorian
Andrew (who goes by his legal first name, unlike Hayes) has been at CHCA since preschool and is immensely grateful for all the opportunities the school and its remarkable faculty have offered him. With their help, Andrew won the National Merit Scholarship, the Global Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish and French, first class honors from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Level 10 Piano, and Bronze, Silver, and Gold President’s Volunteer Service Awards. He has also taken 16 AP Exams and was a semifinalist for the U.S. Presidential Scholarship.
Since sophomore year, Andrew has led an SOS group, starting with CHCA Gardens and then Walnut Hills Gardens and Caring Partners International. This year, he served on the SOS Board, student government, and the Kroger Youth Advisory Council. Throughout high school, he’s also been a part of the track, tennis, academic, and cross country teams along with the symphony orchestra and the pit for the spring musical.
Attending The Ohio State University to study Public Health
Grace Pearson, Class of 2023 Co-Salutatorian
Grace has been at CHCA since preschool (one year after valedictorian Andrew as he so frequently likes to remind her) and has always loved the CHCA community. She is an AP Scholar with Distinction having taken 11 AP classes, a National Merit Finalist, a distinguished CHCA Cum Laude Scholar, and has received various CHCA Academic Awards. Grace has also received awards in art consisting of 11 Gold and Silver Keys in drawing and painting from the Regional Scholastic Art Awards, a Gold Medal in painting from the National Scholastic Art Awards, and 9 awards from the Juried Art Awards.
Her senior year, Grace was a teaching assistant to English teacher Ms. Barron. Despite Ms. Barron’s apprehension, she will continue having TAs as Grace inspired the implementation of TAs to her and other English teachers. Grace is a co-leader of the SOS group Caring Partners International and has participated in many more SOS events. Grace played three years of high school volleyball, two years of varsity track, and participates in club pickleball. Outside of school, Grace enjoys reading, traveling, and having in-depth discussions with friends and family. Last summer, she worked at ArtWorks Cincinnati to paint a mural at the Reds Stadium and was designated as Senior Apprentice.
Attending Haverford College and intends to major in Growth and Structure of Cities
Hayes Santa, Class of 2023 Co-Salutatorian
Hayes has attended CHCA since the eighth grade and is incredibly thankful for the many wonderful opportunities that the school has provided. From serving people experiencing homelessness during service immersions to setting up solar panel microgrid systems in remote Puerto Rico, Hayes has had a blast experiencing all that CHCA offers.
Attending Washington University in St. Louis as an Ampersand Scholar, studying Applied Math and Classics
A National AP Scholar with Distinction, Hayes has enjoyed challenging himself by taking 12 AP classes and 15 AP exams, his favorites being Calculus, Latin, and United States History. He expanded his interest in the classics by becoming a member of the National Junior Classical League and has even received the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy in Latin and English. Additionally, Hayes received four different class awards during his high school career (two more than his co-salutatorian Grace Pearson, whom he frequently likes to tease). During his time at CHCA, Hayes has enjoyed various extracurricular activities such as throwing the discus in track and field, participating on the Academic Team, and volunteering with several SOS groups.
Outside of CHCA, Hayes helped start the Million Mango Project after a mission trip to Haiti, the goal of which is to help combat food instability and promote soil conservation in southern Haiti. Hayes has also been a research intern for SonLight Power and a counselor at a STEM camp that teaches programming basics to elementary schoolers in the Loveland school district.